House approves new state framework for evaluating teachers

The Associated Press

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, October 15, 2015

LANSING (AP) — A new state framework for evaluating teachers and school administrators would take effect this academic year, with annual evaluations being based in part on students' standardized test scores under legislation easily passed by the House on Thursday.

The bill, which was approved 97-8, is a follow-up to a 2011 law that overhauled teacher tenure rules. The law deferred legislative decisions on establishing a statewide evaluation system that was supposed have begun two years ago.

The measure would require districts and charter schools, starting this school year, to base 25 percent of a teacher's evaluation on assessment and student growth data, a component that would rise to 40 percent in 2018-19. Under current law, schools are supposed to ground half their year-end evaluations on such data beginning this academic year.

Starting in 2016-17 under the legislation, the rest of the evaluation would be based primarily on performance — as measured by an evaluation tool chosen from a state list or developed locally, including a classroom observation component.

At least two classroom observations would have to be conducted of teachers not rated as effective or highly effective on their two most recent year-end evaluations. Teachers would have to be trained on the evaluation tool being used.

A district or charter could not assign a student to be taught in the same subject area for two consecutive years by a teacher rated as ineffective on their two previous annual evaluations.

Under current statute, teachers rated as ineffective for three straight years must be fired. About 2.3 percent of teachers were rated minimally effective and 0.5 percent rated ineffective in 2013-14, according to the state Education Department.

The House Fiscal Agency estimates associated costs ranging between $16 million and $42 million. Last fiscal year's budget included nearly $15 million that was aside in a reserve fund in case legislation is approved.

The Senate, which narrowly passed an earlier version of the bill in May, appears likely to send it to Gov. Rick Snyder as early as next week.

Rep. Daniela Garcia, R-Holland, said the legislation avoids a one-size-fits-all evaluation system in every district.

"The bottom line is the success of our students," she said in a statement. "Under this legislation, school districts will have the flexibility to decide on their own evaluation standards to meet that goal. The House has included additional language that will make certain teachers, principals and superintendents are all familiar with and trained in their district's evaluation methods."